Smarter Holiday Spending

Retailers hope that we do not engage in smart holiday spending because they want to make every cent that they can before the year ends.  While capitalism is our system and can benefit all, we should look harder at our spending in such a bad economy.  Did you ever think that marketers are using mind control to make people spend money that they cannot afford to spend?  To sleep in front of a store for two days to spend money on items that are luxuries seems to be over the top.  How do retailers get people to act so crazy?  Why do shoppers attack each other when a sale price is at stake?  Certainly, these people must have been unduly influenced by something in order to act this way. 
At a time when so many people have lost everything, the rest of us should be thinking of our own futures.  If not, we should at least think of how we can help family or friends in need.  There is nothing wrong with buying things, but we should look at the big picture.  Perhaps, we could participate in a joint venture and embark on a business idea.  If you spend money, consider spending it on something that will make you money instead of some luxury item that you may not have needed in the first place.  Smarter holiday spending is mandatory with all of the tricks that retailers have up their sleeves.

The Road to Success

Why are we not moving along on the road to success?  A certain woman that I know is constantly asking me why some people do not do more to help themselves.  My answer is probably the same every time.  Many people have not been given the proper tools to make a difference in their own lives.  Without those tools, nothing will change.  
Those tools include:  education,  goals, movitation, confidence, self-worth.
Without education you cannot move ahead.  Education starts at birth and should continue infinitum.
Goals have to be set to measure the progress that you make.
Self-confidence tells you that you can do whatever you decide to do.
Self-worth will tell you that harmful acts are beneath you and you  will not allow them to interfere with the goals that you set.
Goals should include a plan of action and a deadline.
I think that that if some of the above tools are not present in a person, how will they proceed to reach their potential?  We can see evidence of such conditions all around us.  You may even see this evidence when you look in your own mirror.  We can all ask ourselves, what is preventing me from accomplishing something great in my life?  Once the question is answered, a process is needed to overcome whatever is holding you back.  A lot of people know exactly what happened in life that caused them to lose their way on the road to success.

A Baby Boomer With An Agenda

I have to admit that I am a Baby Boomer with an agenda, and I will be happy to explain myself.
First, as a Baby boomer I have learned a lot from the mistakes that I made in my life.  Poor life decisions do not go away, but become life lessons.  It is hard to live for 60 plus years and not pick up anything of value.  While looking back, a lot of things seem so clear to me.  This translates to Lesson #1.  Do not leave school without a plan along with the steps needed to implement that plan.  If this advice is ignored, you will be forced to rely on the generosity of others.  ( Good luck with that) 
Secondly, I feel that it is not too late to implement some of my business ideas that I thought of in recent years.  Doing so would serve two purposes.  I can implement my own plan and at the same time be a example to others who may desire to improve their own lives.   I have known many older people who give up their dreams because they felt that they are too old to start something new.  It is never too late to follow a dream if you desire to do it.  Therefore, Lesson #2 is to believe in yourself and do not be discouraged by the past, but look ahead.
So, yes, I am a Baby Boomer with an agenda.  Furthermore, I will not be giving up on my dreams as long as my mind allows me to proceed with the program.

Networking

After attending a class on networking for business purposes, I was pleasantly surprised to learn how important it is to connect to other people.  Even if there is not an immediate benefit to your business, over time it all helps.   Networking should start with you offering to help those that you meet, if and when, you can.  In addition, it does no good to meet people if you call them and they do not respond to your contact.  That means that no real connection was made.  Networking is a valuable tool to help grow your business if it is done correctly.  It should benefit both sides of any encounter. 
You can attend any type of event, even if it is not related to your industry, to meet people.   True networking results in win-win relationships.   Such meetings may also result in referrals.
So do not ignore the opportunities to meet new people which, in turn, can help grow your business network.